She did not disclose the money to the Department for Work and Pensions and was
only rumbled when her claims were examined last year.

Sharee claimed she had forgotten the money – despite signing cheques drawn on
the accounts – and said she was saving some cash to support her daughter at
university.

She first started claiming income support legitimately in 1999 when her
multiple sclerosis left her with no way to support herself.

In 2002, she told the Government that her husband had returned from abroad but
was not living with her, so she still needed support.

Seven years later, she claimed her daughter Mandy was still in full-time
education and so she still needed the support.

Sharee was even present a year later when her sister was interviewed under
caution about possible fraudulent claims – but still failed to inform the
department of her cash.

Her con continued undetected from December 2003 to February last year, when
she was asked to account for her cash reserves.

“She said some of the money had been set aside from her Disability Living
Allowance to enable her daughter to go to university,” said prosecutor James
Thacker.

“When asked about the other accounts, she said she had simply forgotten about
them.”

At their peak, Sharee had held nine Barclays accounts worth £84,000, a bond
with a surrender value of £42,000, two NatWest accounts worth £20,500, a
Santander account worth £3,500 and two Nationwide accounts worth £2,900.

Sharee’s family, who sat in the public gallery for the hearing, told the court
that they wanted to pay more than three quarters of the cash back
immediately.

The judge, Mr Recorder Nicholas Green, said he would suspend the prison
sentence Sharee must face because of her disability.

He added: “The offence for which you have pleaded guilty is serious.

“Taking money from the state in this way is unfortunately prevalent and is a
drain on scarce public finances.”

He gave her an eight-month sentence, suspended for a year.

Sharee of Forest Gate, east London, admitted dishonestly failing to notify the
Department for Work and Pensions of a change in circumstances.